Two Indian fighter pilots died in incident, Mirage Crash

French-built Mirage 2000 aircraft crashed on Friday just after it took off. Two Indian Air Force pilots were killed during the incident.

An upgrade was carried out by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) of India on the single-engine jet fighter aircraft that was manufactured by Dassault Aviation and it was on a test flight.

In a statement the defence ministry said that fatal injuries were sustained by both the occupants and added that the investigation is being ordered into the reasons of incident.

It was informed by the Local media reports that the pilots tried to leave the aircraft but they were caught in flames as the French-built Mirage 2000 aircraft exploded at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) airport in the southern city of Bangalore. The local media also informed that no one on the ground was hurt.

A $2.4 billion deal was signed by India in 2011 with France in order to upgrade the 51 Mirage 2000 fighters. These Mirage 2000 fighters were purchased with radar and new electronic warfare systems and were purchased in the mid-1980s.

The Economic Times daily informed last week that the production delays hit the upgrade of the multi-role aircraft on part of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

In India, the crashes involving fighter planes is common which is the center of upgrading its Soviet-era military.

India bought MiGs very long ago from the Soviet Union that are involved in most of the incidents that has also earned the unflattering tag of “flying coffin.”

A MiG-21 jet crashed last July in northern Himachal Pradesh state which resulted in death of a pilot.

A billion of dollars have been invested by India in in modernizing its air force as the fear has increased over the cooperation between its arch-rival China and Pakistan.

A contract has been signed by New Delhi in order to purchase 36 Dassault Rafale fighters for $8.8 billion from France. The 36 Dassault Rafale fighters are expected to be delivered this year.